Multi Directional Fibers In A Shell

Abstract

Disclosed herein are various embodiments, including but not limited to a bicycle that includes, among other features, an elongated down tube and a single elongated seat tube, the longitudinal axis of the seat tube intersecting the longitudinal axis of the down tube at a location substantially intermediate between the first and second ends of the down tube, wherein the distance between the spaced apart side outer surfaces of each of the down tube and the seat tube are less than the distance between the upper and lower outer surfaces of each of the down tube and seat tube; additionally including a seat tube, a seat tube sleeve, a crank assembly and a bottom bracket sleeve for mounting the crank assembly, wherein the seat tube sleeve has an upper end, a lower end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the upper end to the lower end; the seat tube being disposed within the seat tube sleeve, the longitudinal axis of the seat tube sleeve intersecting the bottom bracket sleeve.

1 . A structural shell comprising: a fiber-reinforced composite laminate structure having fibers arranged in at least four different orientations, wherein four of the orientations are non-perpendicular to one another.  
   
   
       2 . The structural shell of  claim 1  in which the at least four different non-perpendicular biased orientations include a 90 degree bias, a 30 degree bias, a 60 degree bias and a 45 degree bias.  
   
   
       3 . The structural shell of  claim 1  in which the shell includes a hollow shell that includes one or more ribs.  
   
   
       4 . The structural shell of  claim 1  in which the shell includes a hollow shell that includes one or more struts.  
   
   
       5 . A structural shell comprising: a shell wall having 
 a first plurality of fibers oriented in a first longitudinal direction parallel to the shell wall,    a second plurality of fibers oriented in a second longitudinal direction that is also parallel to the shell wall but different from and non-perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction wherein at least some of the first plurality of fibers cross at least some of the second plurality of fibers,    a third plurality of fibers oriented in a third longitudinal direction that is also parallel to the shell wall but different from and non-perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal directions wherein at least some of the third plurality of fibers cross at least some of the first and second pluralities of fibers, and    a fourth plurality of fibers oriented in a fourth longitudinal direction that is also parallel to the shell wall but different from and non-perpendicular to the first, second, and third longitudinal directions wherein at least some of the fourth plurality of fibers cross at least some of the first, second, and third pluralities of fibers.    
   
   
       6 . The structural shell of  claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of fibers and the second plurality of fibers are woven together.  
   
   
       7 . The structural shell of  claim 5 , wherein the shell wall has an oval cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . A structural shell comprising: 
 a first ply including one or more fibers oriented in a first fiber direction and one or more fibers oriented in a second fiber direction and    a second ply including one or more fibers oriented in a third fiber direction and one or more fibers oriented in a fourth fiber direction,    wherein the first ply is in substantial planar contact with the second ply and wherein the first fiber direction, second fiber direction, third fiber direction, and fourth fiber direction are different from an non-perpendicular to one another.